2016 Gail Givoglu

Gail Givolglu_TBIGAIL GIVOLGLU

Tissue and Cornea Donor

Age 56 ~ Orlando, FL

Donated on 02/02/2014

at Orlando Regional Medical Center

Honored by tbionline.org

When Gail Aglaia Givoglu journeyed home on February 2, 2015, she left this world a better place than she found it.  Part owner of the successful Mediterranean restaurant, Mediterranean Blue, Gail was loved by all who knew her.  She was humble about her restaurant’s success and treated all of her customers as family.  Gail loved traveling, the theatre, and movies where she would often be seen donning her signature red lipstick.  Gail was truly a local treasure, known for her bright smile and hospitality. Her light continues to shine as she gave the gift of sight to two people through cornea donation and helped countless others through tissue donation.

Gail’s Story

When Gail Aglaia Givoglu journeyed home on February 2, 2015, she left this world a better place than she found it. Born February 25, 1958, to John and Despina Givoglu, she grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in a close knit Greek community. A first-generation American, Gail’s childhood was steeped in the flavors of Greek cuisine. In 1978, Gail and her family moved to Orlando, Florida, where they were part of cultivating yet another close community of family and friends. After college, Gail went on to work for the Marriott Corporation, gaining experience and knowledge she would later use to run her own successful restaurant, Mediterranean Blue, with her brother Bob. Gail loved her family, friends, the restaurant, and her customers, whom she thought of as family. Of the restaurant’s success, family members said she was humble, giddy and shocked.

Cooking was largely the responsibility of Bob, while she handled the more “front-of-house” affairs, which included catering, payroll, and maintaining their community relationships. Since it opened nearly five years ago, Gail made visitors to the restaurant feel like family. “Here, this is on me,” she might say to a local. “Try this piece of baklava.”

Theia Gail, as she was known to her cousin’s children, was the fun aunt who, as an annual-pass holder, frequented Walt Disney World parks with the kids. Gail loved traveling, the theater, and movies, often donning her signature red lipstick. She had a deep devotion to the Beatles and collected John Lennon memorabilia.

Though it became harder to travel after she and Bob opened Mediterranean Blue, Gail still enjoyed taking a cruise to escape. When she died due to cardiac arrest at the age of 56, her church service was flooded with patrons, former employees, family, and friends. Gail was truly a local treasure, known for her bright smile and hospitality. Her light continues to shine as she gave the gift of sight to two people through cornea donation and helped countless others through tissue donation.